Post
by Muzozavr » Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:26 am
Excuse me for basically cramming my past in a big mess with a disjointed order.
Jazz Jackrabbit was the first platformer game I've ever played. Ever. Of course back then I didn't get very far, even on easy mode, but I did remember the graphics, the awesome music, it was fun running around in that game... unfortunately, my memories of it were based on the godly episode 1 and (to a somewhat lesser extent but still godly) episode 2. The rest of them proved to be hideously annoying to play thanks to the combination of low resolution and level design that wasn't fit for it, with enemies positioned in stunningly unfair ways. It would be fine if the game decided to be IWBTG Lite, but then it didn't have enough balls to go all the way, so it stayed "inbetween" and that between is not fun. I trudged my way through most of the remaining levels, though the game did manage to end on a high note in episode 6 with a ridiculously awesome final boss, but that's about it. I had the CD-only bonus episode, but never played them.
The bonus stages of the game were in a separate episode Z in CD version, the only CD-only episode I played. When your bonus stages are more fun to play than the main game, your main game has problems.
The Dizzy games, however, were worth their memories. The PC versions of Fantasy World Dizzy, Magicland Dizzy and Prince of the Yolkfolk. I actually managed to beat that last one after reading a few hints (seriously, how is ANYONE supposed to figure out that troll puzzle?) though for the longest time (a year and a half) I was stumped on the silliest thing ever (a cherry that's in plain view, but I just couldn't figure out how to get it)
I did beat Fantasy World Dizzy after using an infinite lives cheat code. I tried playing fairly and I would be actually able to DO that for the most part, but giving the sleeping potion to the dragon... ow. It's impossible, seriously. The dragon kills you way too often way too fast. You're likely to blow dozens of lives just to get close enough to that dragon.
Also I remember some flash game where you collected red squares and avoided black ones... or vice-versa I can't remember.
Also, Supaplex. My father had a guest come to him and that guest gave me that game. I've spent silly amounts of time at it. I did eventually beat all of the levels, though. Gotta count for something. It's basically a Boulder Dash clone, but much better. 111 levels!
Also: Heretic and Duke Nukem 3D. Though my version of Duke Nukem cut out all the quotes. Still very fun games to play. I didn't know how to strafe, though, so I got bored of them pretty fast.
Then there's Diablo 1... oh man, that was the best of the best. Truly worth its memories, one of the best damn games I've ever played. Most of the music was cut out, but hive/abyss remained, so this was also my first exposure to creepy dark ambient music, back then it scared the hell out of me. Then I discovered that the REAL version had more music and now this is one of my favorite soundtracks. Now you have to do very well in order to actually SCARE me with music. (Higurashi OSTs say "hi")
Then back when I was even younger, there was this one awesome game, The Incredible Machine. Oh wow. I couldn't get very far in it, but daaaaaaamn it was awesome. It's a game where they give you a complex Rube Golberg machine with missing parts and then you had to fill them in. It's really hard, but really good.
There was the DOS version of Asteroids someone gave me. Nice game, but got boring fast.
There also was a "corner" game I'm not gonna bother explaining (nice simulation of a board game) then something I don't remember, then Micemen. Micemen is a truly original game and it's a shame to see no successors.
Later on, there was U-95, "Happy Birthday" (two games you probably don't know and never will: a well-made, but frustratingly difficult shmup with "don't touch the walls" in full force and a simple adventure game which I was stuck on for far too long) and the first two Legend of Kyrandia games. Sadly I was too stupid to understand the idea behind it, and basically played the whole game with a walkthrough in hand. I still enjoyed the ride, though. I tried Kyrandia 3 a lot later, but it didn't feel quite as good.
Yes, this is all PC.
Rest in peace, Kym. I hardly knew ya.
Rest in peace, Marinus. A bright star, you were ahead of me on my own tracks of thought. I miss you.